My phone lights up the darkened hotel room. The message is a mix of numbers, letters and symbols � coordinates for where I am to be in the middle of the night.
I paste the line of text into my phone’s map app and await my directions, a 20 minute drive along an eight-mile route through the Arizona backcountry.
kAmxE :D c 2]>] 2?5 E96 E6>A6C2EFC6 @FED:56 :D :? E96 FAA6C D:IE:6D]k^Am
kAmx 5C@A >J C@@> <6J :? E96 62C=J 4964<@FE D=@E 2E E96 xC@? w@CD6 x??] %96C6 :D ?@E 2?@E96C D@F= @? E96 5@H?E@H? DEC66ED @7 r@EE@?H@@5[ pC:K@?2] xE :D E96 5625 @7 ?:89E 24C@DD E96 '6C56 '2==6J]k^Am
kAmpD x ?2G:82E6 >J $&' @?E@ |2:? $EC66E >J A9@?6 C64:E6D 5:C64E:@?D E@ E96 G:?6J2C5 H96C6 x 92G6 366? 42==65 E@ =23@C]k^Am
kAmx 2> 2 E6>A@C2CJ H@C<6C @? 2 92CG6DE 4C6H[ @C 2D E96 uC6?49 H@F=5 D2J[ 2 G6?52?86FC � 2 8C2A6 A:4<6C] p?5 E9:D :D “{2 '6?52?86� � E96 >@>6?E E96 H:?6>2<6C 36=:6G6D E96 8C2A6D 92G6 249:6G65 2 A6C764E 32=2?46 2?5 C:A6?6DD]k^Am
kAms6E6C>:?:?8 E9:D 6I24E >@>6?E :D 2 3=6?5 @7 2CE:DECJ[ ?2EFC6[ :?DE:?4E 2?5 496>:DECJ] xE’D 2== @G6C >J 9625]k^Am
kAmx�> E@=5 H:?6>2<6CD 4@?DE2?E=J E6DE 8C2A6 DF82C =6G6=D] %96J >@?:E@C E96:C 492?8:?8 4@=@CD[ 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 G2C:6E2=[ 2H2:E:?8 EC2?D7@C>2E:@? 7C@> 8C66? E@ 6:E96C AFCA=6\C65 @C EC2?D=F46?E 8@=5] %96J ?@E6 E96:C D:K6 2D E96J 8C@H 3:886C] %96J 766= E96> E@ 56E64E 2 D@7E6?:?8] %96J 6G6? 25>:?:DE6C E96:C @H? E2DE6 E6DE[ D66<:?8 E96 A6C764E 32=2?46 36EH66? 24:5:EJ 2?5 DF82C]k^Am
kAmp== E9:D :?7@C>2E:@? 56E6C>:?6D 2 8C2A6’D C625:?6DD � 2?5 6G6? E9:D 5:776CD 3J C68:@?[ 7C@> @?6 H:?6>2<6C E@ E96 ?6IE 2?5 7C@> @?6 8C2A6 G2C:6EJ E@ 2?@E96C] qFE E96 8@2= :D E96 D2>6 � @AE:>F> C:A6?6DD 7@C E96 56D:C65 H:?6 2?5 DEJ=6]k^Am
kAmx? E96 =625 FA E@ {2 '6?52?86[ E96 H:?6CJ 2DD6>3=6D 92CG6DE E62>D 7@C E9:D =23@C\:?E6?D:G6 H@C<] xE 92D 364@>6 4@>>@? 7@C G:?6J2C5D E@ 92CG6DE :? E96 4@@= @7 ?:89E ?@E @?=J 7@C E96 4@?D:56C2E:@? @7 =23@C6CD[ 3FE 7@C E96 8C2A6D[ E@@] }:89EE:>6 A:4<D >2<6 DFC6 7C6D9=J 92CG6DE65 8C2A6D 5@ ?@E 32<6 :? E96 9@E DF?[ @C DE2CE E96 76C>6?E:?8 AC@46DD H9:=6 H2:E:?8 7@C EC2?DA@CE E@ E96 H:?6CJ]k^Am
kAmu@C E96 A2DE H66< E96 |2=G2D:2 q:2?42 8C2A6[ H9:49 H6 92G6 366? DF>>@?65 E@ A:4<[ 92G6 366? DH6==:?8 E@H2C5D >2EFC:EJ] p== E96 J62C’D A6C:=D � :?D64ED[ H:?5[ C2:?[ 5C@F89E[ 7C66K6D 2?5 6IEC2@C5:?2CJ 962E � 2C6 AC62>3=6 E@ E9:D ?:89E]k^Am
kAmx EC2G6CD6 5:CE C@25D[ 7@C5 2 D92==@H 4C66<[ 2?5 3F>A 5@H? 2 C@4<J A2E9] |J 2AA E6==D >6 x�> 4=@D6] %96 =2DE 9F?5C65 J2C5D[ E96 C@25 364@>6D 2 @?6\=2?6 EC2:=]k^Am
kAm�*@F 92G6 2CC:G65 2E J@FC 56DE:?2E:@?]”k^Am
kAms@D !25C6D ':?6J2C5]k^Am
kAmx A2C<[ 82E96C >J DFAA=:6D[ 2?5 ;@:? E96 @E96CD F?56C 2 4@CCF82E65 >6E2= 42?@AJ E@ 962C :?DECF4E:@?D 7@C E9:D 8C2A6 2?5 E9:D 7:6=5] p=E9@F89 E9:D :D >J 7:CDE H:?6 92CG6DE � :E’D ?@E >J 7:CDE 92CG6DE[ 92G:?8 H@C<65 H962E[ 4@C?[ 42?E2=@FA6 2?5 49:=6 92CG6DED :? E96 A2DE]k^Am
kAmp>@?8 E96 5@K6? @C D@ @7 FD[ E96C6’D 2? F?>:DE2<23=6 3FKK @7 6I4:E6>6?E] p?E:4:A2E:@? 7@C E96 4@>:?8 G:?E286 92D 3F:=E 7@C H66<D] &?=:<6 >6[ 2 =2DE\>:?FE6 255:E:@? H9@ 92D EC2G6=65 2 9F?5C65 >:=6D E@ 36 96C6[ >@DE =:G6 5@H? E96 C@25[ @C :? ?62C3J E@H?D]k^Am
kAm(6 A2:C @77 2?5 86E E@ H@C<] %96 C246 :D @? E@ 3C:?8\:? E96D6 8C2A6D 2E E96:C A62< C:A6?6DD 2D E96 92CG6DE :D @77:4:2==J F?56CH2J]k^Am
kAmpE E96 9625 @7 6249 C@H 2C6 ?F>36C65 A@DED] |J A2CE?6C 2?5 x 2C6 2DD:8?65 E@ C@H D:I] (6 DE2?5 @? 6249 D:56 @7 E96 G:?6[ :? E96 D:I\7@@E DA246 36EH66? C@HD] %96 =:?6 @7 G:?6D DEC6E496D D6G6C2= 9F?5C65 766E FA9:== :? 2 ?@CE9\D@FE9 @C:6?E2E:@?] x D=@H=J 766= >J H2J E9C@F89 E96 G:?6’D =62G6D[ D62C49:?8 7@C 4=FDE6CD @7 8C2A6D � >J @?=J 8F:5:?8 =:89E 4@>:?8 7C@> 2 D>2== 9625=2>A]k^Am
kAmx >2<6 >J H2J 5@H? C@H D:I[ @A6C2E:?8 2D >F49 3J 766= 2D 3J D:89E] x 5:D42C5 >J H@C< 8=@G6D[ >2<:?8 :E 62D:6C E@ 766= H96C6 2 4=FDE6C’D DE6>[ :ED C249:D[ 4@??64ED E@ E96 >2:? D9@@E] x D?:A E96 DE6> ?62C E9:D 4@??64E:?8 A@:?E 2?5 86?E=J E@DD E96 4=FDE6C :?E@ E96 4C2E6 36?62E9 E96 G:?6]k^Am
kAm(6 H@C< :? D:=6?46] r=FDE6CD @7 8C2A6D 2C6 92C5 E@ DA@E 2>@?8DE 2== E96 =62G6D :? E96 52C<[ 2?5 4@?G6CD2E:@? 5:DEC24ED 7C@> E96 E2D<] p?J D>2== E2=< :D DEC:4E=J 3FD:?6DD]k^Am
kAm�%9:D 3F?49 :D 62D:6C 7C@> J@FC D:56]”k^Am
kAm“r2? J@F D=:56 E96 4C2E6 4=@D6C E@ E96 >:55=6n”k^Am
kAm�%96C6 :D 2 3F?49 @? E96 8C@F?5 E@ J@FC =67E]”k^Am
kAm“s@6D E9:D =@@< 8@@5 E@ J@Fn”k^Am
kAmp7E6C ?62C=J 2? 9@FC H6 C6249 E96 6?5 @7 C@H D:I 2?5 DE2CE 2?6H @? C@H `b] %96 9@C:K@? :D 3C:89E6?:?8] %2=< EFC?D E@ E96 8C2A6 2D @FC 4@?G6CD2E:@? :D ?@ =@?86C =:>:E65 E@ E96 >6492?:4D @7 A:4<:?8]k^Am
kAm“s@ J@F <?@H >F49 23@FE E9:D 8C2A6n”k^Am
kAm“xE’D 7C@> xE2=J] xE E9C:G6D :? 9@E[ 5CJ 4=:>2E6D] %2DE6 @?6]”k^Am
kAm“x =:<6 :E]”k^Am
kAmx =62C? E9:D 8C2A6 H:== 36 3=6?565 H:E9 D6G6C2= @E96C 8C2A6 G2C:6E:6D[ 2?5 3@EE=65 3J !286 $AC:?8D r6==2CD 2D ':?@ 56= q2CC:@\q=2?42 � 2 E2DEJ H9:E6 H:?6] %9:D G:?E286 4@F=5 36 2G2:=23=6 367@C6 ?6IE J62C’D 92CG6DE]k^Am
kAm$@ 8@6D E96 4@?G6CD2E:@? 2D H6 4@>A=6E6 2?@E96C C@H]k^Am
kAmx? E96 62C=J =:89E[ x ?@E:46 E96 4=FDE6CD 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 C@H[ H96C6 E96 6IA@DFC6 E@ E96 DF? :D E96 8C62E6DE[ 2C6 D>2==6C 2?5 D@>6 2C6 @G6CC:A6] r=FDE6CD 72CE96C 5@H? E96 =:?6 2C6 3:886C 2?5 ;F:4:6C � G:CEF2==J A6C764E]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 H6 DE2CE E96 ?6IE C@H[ H6 H2=< 324< 5@H? E96 =:?6 :?DA64E:?8 E96 G:?6D 7C@> 2 5:776C6?E 2?8=6 E@ 7:?5 2?J 4=FDE6CD E92E >2J 92G6 366? @G6C=@@<65]k^Am
kAm(6 2C6 EH@ 9@FCD :?E@ E96 A:4<] |J 92?5D 2C6 DE:4<J 7C@> 8C2A6 ;F:46] x DA=2D9 D@>6 H2E6C E@ ECJ 2?5 4=62? E96> 367@C6 H6 DE2CE 282:?]k^Am
kAm|J A2CE?6C C6>@G6D 9:D 92E 2?5 H:A6D E96 DH62E 7C@> 9:D 3C@H] %:== ?@H[ 2== x 925 D66? @7 9:> H6C6 9:D 52C< D?62<6CD 2?5 H9:E6 =688:?8D 36?62E9 E96 G:?6 :? E96 =:89E @7 >J 9625=2>A] w6’D 2 J@F?8 d_[ H:E9 2 7F== 9625 @7 C65 92:C]k^Am
kAmpD H6 368:? 282:?[ x 2D< 9:D ?2>6]k^Am
kAm�%96J 42== >6 r967 qC:2?]”k^Am
kAm“pC6 J@F 2 r967]”k^Am
촡�*6ٱ”k
kAm�(92E C6DE2FC2?En”k^Am
kAm“x 92G6 @H?65 D6G6C2=[ !286 $AC:?8D #6DE2FC2?E[ 6G6? 925 2 7@@5 ECF4< 2E @?6 E:>6]”k^Am
kAm%96C6 H2D D@>6E9:?8 72>:=:2C 23@FE 9:>]k^Am
kAm“qC:2?[ 2C6 J@F 7C@> !C6D4@EEn”k^Am
촡�*6ٱ”k
kAm“pC6 J@FC A2C6?ED |:4926= 2?5 r:?5Jn”k^Am
촡�*6ٱ”k
kAm|:4926= 2?5 r:?5J H6C6 >J ?6:893@CD >@C6 E92? c_ J62CD 28@] r:?5J[ H9@ 92D D:?46 A2DD65[ 925 2 D@? ?2>65 qC:2?] x 925 D66? |:4926= 3FE @?46 :? E96 A2DE b_ J62CD[ 2?5 2E E92E E:>6 96 FA52E65 >6 @? 9:D DE6AD@?[ E6==:?8 >6 qC:2? H2D 2 4967 :? E96 '6C56 '2==6J]k^Am
kAm“qC:2?[ x =:G65 24C@DD E96 DEC66E 7C@> J@F 2?5 J@FC 7@=<D 324< :? E96 62C=J `hg_D]”k^Am
kAm(6 EC2565 DE@C:6D 2D H6 H@C<65] w6 H2D 2 AC6\E66?j x H2D E96 =@42= H66<=J ?6HDA2A6C 65:E@C] x AF3=:D965 2 A9@E@ @7 9:> @? E96 4@G6C @7 >J ?6HDA2A6C 7@C 2 DE@CJ 23@FE E96 =:EE=6 4@>>F?:EJ @7 y6C@>6] |:4926=[ 9:D DE6A72E96C[ D4F=AE65 C6=:8:@FD 7:8FC6D 2?5 x H2D 9:D >@56= 7@C 2 D4F=AEFC6 96 5:5 @7 $2F= 36:?8 DECF4< 3=:?5 @? E96 C@25 E@ s2>2D4FD] xE DE2?5D @FED:56 2 $E] !2F= r2E9@=:4 r9FC49 :? ?@CE9 !9@6?:I E@ E9:D 52J]k^Am
kAmpE E96 6?5 @7 E96 C@H[ H6 6>3C246 2?5 92G6 @FC A9@E@ D?2AA65 E@86E96C]k^Am
kAmxE :D ?62C=J h2>[ 2?5 :E :D ga 568C66D] (6 86E 324< E@ H@C< @? C@H ab] %96C6 2C6 df C@HD :? E9:D D64E:@? @7 |2=G2D:2 q:2?42 8C2A6D[ bc >@C6 E@ 8@]k^Am
kAm%9C@F89 $6AE6>36C[ G6?52?86FCD H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ =23@C 52J\2?5\?:89E A:4<:?8 $JC29[ vC24:2? 2?5 #@FDD2??6 8C2A6D E92E 8C@H @? E96 9:==D @7 s@D !25C6D ':?6J2C5] $@@?[ E96 G:?6D 96C6 H:== 8@ 5@C>2?E] {62G6D H:== 72== 2?5 D9@@ED H:== 492?86 7C@> 8C66? E@ 3C@H?] qFE E96 H@C< 5@6D?’E 6?5 � E96C6’D 2 =@E >@C6 E@ 4@>6 367@C6 E9:D J62C’D G:?E286 >2<6D :E :?E@ 32CC6=D[ 3@EE=6D[ 2?5 6G6?EF2==J 8=2DD6D]k^Am